ASUS Padfone

It's A Tablet & A Phone: But Is It Worth It?

Watching two sumo wrestlers smash their incredible size into each other can be an awe-inspiring experience. But finding out that they are simultaneously competing for a Japanese desk job makes them seem less impressive. That’s what we’re seeing at MWC (Mobile World Conference) as Samsung’s recently released Galaxy Note goes head-to-head with the new ASUS Padfone.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a 5.3-inch tabphone (phonelet?) that comes with a remarkably bad stylus, a design throwback that is more retro than cool. Too big to fit in your pocket and too small to use as a tablet. It’s remarkable that this thing went from bad idea all the way to bad execution.

So you would think that ASUS Padfone would easily take the crown, but it too is being panned at MWC for — here’s the shocker — being a confusing cross between a phone and a tablet. The Padfone is amazing in its stupidity. It’s not one unit that is just big; it’s two parts: a 4.3” mobile that slides into a bigger 10.1” screen that you buy separately. Wife want to use the tablet? Then she’s also using your phone! Then comes the magical stylus pen, which doubles as a Bluetooth headset. We’re not kidding — this all sounds like a second grader's idea of Bond gear.

We get it: It’s not easy to stand out from all these iPad wannabes and distinguish your product in an increasingly crowded market. But remember, when you’re sitting in the boardroom and nothing unique is coming to mind, crapping your pants may separate you from the others, but it doesn’t make it a good idea.